Joaquin Phoenix as Lex Luthor in Batman vs. Superman?

Apparently that’s what Warner Bros. is hoping when it comes to the Zack Snyder film. The studio is reportedly looking at Joaquin Phoenix as “Batman vs. Superman’s” big bad, with the actor at the top of the studio’s list to play the villainous Lex Luthor.

The trade only knows that Warner Bros. suits wants Phoenix for a role in the Snyder film, writing that although “sources couldn’t confirm what the role is, it’s believed to be for the main antagonist, which is likely to be Lex Luthor.”

Although Phoenix doesn’t exactly look like your traditional Lex Luthor (re: he’s not bald), who says Luthor has to be bald? That’s a comic book thing. After all, they already swapped Perry White’s race and Jimmy Olsen’s gender, so why not give ol Lex a full head of hair while they’re at it?

And certainly Phoenix as the main bad guy in “Batman vs. Superman” would be more convincing than when Phoenix played the main bad guy in “Gladiator”, where he looked like a kid getting spanked by Russell Crowe’s Maximus.

The Snyder film is set to open in July 17, 2015, with Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman, and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. Jason Momoa was said to also have an unnamed role in the film.